Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Well-fitting pants are the holy grail, in my mind. Amazon.com lists 145 book titles (7 for the Kindle!) in the Crafts & Hobbies section and while some of those titles are for knitting and crochet, most of them are about making pants that fit and look good. I own at least 5 of these titles; I have zero pairs of pants that fit*.

I can get by with store bought jeans, it's very rare for me to find slacks or trousers that I'm both willing to spend the money for and that I feel comfortable and attractive wearing. I'm not alone - even Oprah.com has dedicated space to well-fitting pants!

Vogue 8090:

Unlined top and jacket have high waist, lapped lower back, front button closing and top stitching. Sleeveless and long sleeve views. Pants have side zipper. Above ankle and floor length views.

Vogue 8090

I love this style. Several people have reviewed it on PatternReview.com, though they've all focused on the top/jacket. That's what drew my attention, too, but pants come first!

This narrow leg and simple design will be perfect for, well ... perfecting fit! No pockets, a side zipper and a sewn-on waistband should give me the design I need to wear with knit tops and the foundation incorporate other design details once I have the fit refined.

Get Going ... Organized! How is it that the world's problems seem to go unresolved, day after day, month after month, year after year? Could it be that we're all just in need of some organization! I don't know, but I know that my purse seems to be the Home of Chaos - always! Got the same problem - see what to do "When Your Purse Weighs More Than Your Body"!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan declared September to be "National Sewing Month" in recognition to the importance of home sewing to the United States. What a perfect time to hone your skills, jump start your projects and check out some new tools.

My sewing happens all over the place! My DH made me a wonderful new sewing room in our house - complete with a real cutting table, a laminate floor and a fresh coat of paint! I sew with friends at American Sewing Guild Neighborhood Group and Chapter meetings. And, I sew on the boat that my husband sailed into my life aboard! He turned over one of the state rooms to me so I could sew throughout the week since we split our time between the house and the boat.

Rather than drag supplies around with me, there are a few things that I need in to have in duplicate, like shears, pin cushions, etc. There are other things that are just too bulky for the boat, even with dedicated space. I use a gravity feed steam iron at home - just not practical for the boat. The Rowenta First Class travel iron is perfect!

Rowenta First Class Travel Iron

I bought mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond, but they are sold everywhere. For less than $40 (closer to $30 with one of those BB&B coupons), it has a reasonably-sized water tank, shoots a fair amount of steam and operates on 120 or 240 v. It even comes with a storage pouch that easily holds the iron and the cord.

For sewing on the go, it's perfect! And since sewing on the go must happen if I'm to keep my sewing going, it's perfect for me!

Get Going ... Watching! There are an amazing number of sources to find sewing related videos. Threads Magazine has their "Teach Yourself to Sew" series which covers a broad range of topics. Simplicity's website does, too. Both are free. There are tons of sewing videos on YouTube, offered by individuals, professionals and manufacturers. You'll find amazing skills and a wealth of information shared so generously - testimony to something Ronald Reagan seemed to know. Spend a minute watching or making your own! I didn't have these resources when I was learning, so I'm going to make sure to set aside some time this month to do a little catching up!